A46-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 22,1986
SPOKANE, WA Agricultural
producers from across the nation
have gathered here recently to
confront the rural crisis facing
America.
Calling the 1985 Farm Bill
inadequate and designed to reduce '
farm income, delegates to the 84th
Annual National Farmers Union
Convention met to write the
Organization’s policy statement
for the next year.
David Stetler, President of
Pennsylvania Farmers Union and
leader of the Pennsylvania
Delegation, said family farmers
are facing some of the toughest
farm policy legislation in recent
history.
PDPP allocates $35,000
HARRISBURG - Don’t cancel
that late summer or fall dairy
promotion for lack of money.
Up to $35,000 in matching funds
has been voted by the Penn
sylvania Dairy Promotion
Program, it is announced by
Advisory Board Chairman Don
Duncan. And most local
organizations qualify. But hurry,
he adds. Applications are due April
15.
The board, comprised of 19 dairy Program also will fund capital
farmers, oversees as 2 million milk investments for milk shake
advertising and promotion machines and other dairy related
program. It is supported by over equipment. PDPP will pay one
4,000 dairymen. fourth the cost, to a maximum of
Only Pennsylvania committees $l,OOO.
and organizations are eligible for Dairy princess pageants aren’t
milk promotion dollars, the Berks * eligible. “We already support the
County dairyman explains. And dairy princess program” Duncan
the new funds must be used during explained,
the July-December period. For applications and further
The board already has allocated details write to Cindy Weimer,
$34,254 to 41 groups for January- promotion coordinator, Penn-
June promotions. All are eligible sylvania Dairy Promotion
for the current round of funding. Program, 2301 North Cameron
Previous allocations ranged Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408.
from $3,107 for the Huntingdon The deadline is April 15.
‘Future’ session
(Continued from Page A 34)
handle manure,” said Wolff,
pointing to the generation of
electricity through manure in
cineration as an exciting new
possibility.
Wolff pointed out that two major
Pennsylvania poultry integrators
are looking into the possibility of
burning poultry manure. But much
research is needed to determine
how much energy can actually be
generated, as well as what is
contained in incineration’s two by
products, smoke emissions and
ash.
Turning to a resource of quite a
different nature, Penn State
agricultural economist Jill Findeis
said that a significant labor force
exists among farmers seeking off
farm employment.
An eye-opening 70 percent of all
farm income in the state is ac
tually generated away from the
farm, said Findeis. Although this
figure includes income from
dividends, interest and retirement
programs, more than SO percent is
earned through wages and
salaries.
What isn’t known, according to
Findeis, is how many of those
fanners employed away from the
farm are actually phasing out of
farming, or using their off-farm
incomes as a temporary safety net
or a long-term income supplement.
While demand for off-farm
employment continues to increase,
rural employment opportunities
have actually been decreasing
within the past five years. “So we
need to understand how our far
mers are adapting to the changes
taking place,” said Findeis.
Compounding the problem is the
fact that many older and less
educated farmers are generally
unwilling to work away from the
farm, either by choice or because
of-their inability to get a job.
“What skills do they have to enter
Stetler leads PFU group at national convention
“Conditions confronting family
farmers have steadily
deteriorated,” said Stetler.
“Farmers are having a tough time
all over. I can tell you the prices
Pennsylvania farmers are
receiving are so low (30-50% lower
than in 1981 in some cases) that
many can’t survive their debt,
much less service cost of
production, management costs,
and return on investment.”
Farm unity has been evidenced
as Farmers Union leaders span
ning the country have been ad
dressed-by an impressive list of
policy leaders, international
producer representatives and
rural life experts during the four-
County Dairy Promotion Program
to $lOO for the Sullivan County
Dairy Festival Committee.
There are dollar limits, says
Duncan. Radio advertising is
limited to $6OO per station, with the
local committee picking up 25
percent of the cost. Also only the
Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion
Program’s professionally
produced radio ads can be used.
Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion
an increasingly competitive job
market?” said the economist.
“I’m very concerned about that,”
she noted, adding that training is
needed for this segment of the
agricultural community.
Findeis also expressed concern
for dairymen in need of sup
plemental income. Due to the
demands of dairying, these far
mers are often unable to pursue
outside employment, she said.
On the plus side, Pennsylvania
farmers are not only close to their
markets, but close to rural jobs, as
well. “That is a very special
feature of Pennsylvania, but we
need to leam to be able to
capitalize on that,” said Findeis.
According to Penn State Ex
tension ag economist Ted Alter,
local governments and the non
farm sector can play an important
role in maintaining the vitality of
our rural communities by
providing off-farm employment
opportunities, as well as other
essential services.
By encouraging development in
rural areas, local governments
will be helping to provide facilities,
services and off-farm employment
for local farmers. Upgraded roads
and bridges are good examples of
how development can impact
positively on the local agricultural
community, said Alter.
On the other hand, there is a
down side to economic growth and
development, the economist
pointed out. Such development
often leads to an increase in land
values, property taxes and com
plaints from the farmer’s new
neighbors, all of which can be
counterproductive to agriculture.
The challenge for government,
then, is to develop land «■
policies, tax systems and rM||
and bridges that strike an
ceptable balance betWOTl
agriculture and the nonfaiM
sector, Alter concluded.
day event. efforts to revitalize the economy,” return equity to rural America.
Echoing the sentiments of AFL- stetler pledged the help of his “The responsibility rests with all
CIO President, Lane Kirkland, Organization in a continued of us,” said Stetler. “We must set
who said in his Convention address statewide effort with rural aside our differences and work
on Monday that American laborers businesses, consumer groups, and collectively to see that our goals in
and farmers have been “left out of members of organized labor to rural America are accomplished.”
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